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Asperger’s and Noise Sensitivity

People with Asperger Syndrome often have to deal with extreme sensitivities to everyday sights, sounds, smells and touch.

Certain studies indicate that between 42% and 88% of people with Asperger Syndrome do experience such sensitivities.

Hearing problems are the most common. Some Aspies seem to hear sounds others do not. They can be driven to distraction by noises everyone else filters out, such as the buzz of fluorescent lights or the brush of corduroy against a desk. The inability to filter out background noises makes it hard for many Aspies to follow conversations or listen to their teachers’ directions. Some sounds seem actually painful to Aspies.

Sensory sensitivity: People with Aspergers Syndrome are sensitive and even hyper-sensitive to certain sounds or sensory stimuli, such as noise, smell and light. This can lead to a feeling of being over-loaded and often results in angry outbursts. This often means they live in fear of unexpected sensory stimuli in order to avoid angry outbursts or anxiety.